Former Ukraine and Shakhtar Donetsk defender Oleksandr Kucher commented on the Ukraine-Czech Republic match of the 4th round of the Nations League, which ended 1-1.
Oleksandr Kucher (photo: scdnipro1.com.ua)- What are your impressions of the game?
- As expected, it was an intense, tense game, with a lot of fighting.
- If we analyze the conceded goal, there are claims to Shaparenko and Sudakov, who were supposed to play on the rebound, but stood and kept the space. Is there really no understanding of how to act when there are standards?
- This is called game discipline. Of course, both of them didn't finish. As soon as the ball left the penalty area, one of them had to cover the kicker and block the shot. During the setup, the coach always pays great attention to who is standing where and who is responsible for rebounding. Shaparenko and Sudakov kept the zone, controlling the space, but they forgot about the fight. Probably, self-preservation worked.
- Who can be singled out in the national team for this game?
- I don't want to talk about anyone in particular. You could see the desire of all the players to win, and with such a strong team as the Czech Republic, everyone gave their all. The first half passed with a slight advantage of the Czechs, they imposed aggressive, contact football, and sometimes pushed our players. The opponent was also dangerous during set pieces, and after one of them we scored. In the second half, our team managed to level the game, to impose its own through pressure and pressure. Two equal teams played, and the draw was a natural outcome.
- I was surprised to read that Kalyuzhny was one of the Lions of the Match. But he played poorly as a substitute. If the referee had been more principled, Kalyuzhnyi would have been sent off. In the first moment in front of his penalty area, he caught up with the opponent and deliberately knocked him in the back. The verdict was a free kick and a yellow card. Fortunately, the referee ignored this violation. The second moment - again, Kalyuzhny deliberately knocks down an opponent on the sideline to thwart a dangerous attack. Here, the referee recorded the violation, but without warning. On this day, we were lucky with the femme fatale, don't you agree?
- He made exactly the same mistakes in the first match against Georgia, when he lost the ball and had to grab the opponent with his hands to prevent a dangerous counterattack. Yes, I have a great desire to prove myself, I try not to give up in the fight for the ball, somewhere I lack speed, hence such miscalculations. You need to be able to calculate the choice of position on the field, and then there will be no tactical mistakes. But most importantly, he gives his all on the field.
- Was the draw more in favor of the Czechs?
- Of course, everyone wanted a victory, which would increase our team's chances of advancing further. But with an equal game, given that we had to play back, a draw is also a good result. After two defeats, we got four points, and there is hope for success in the final two matches. Now everything is in our feet and hands.
Serhii Shebek
